Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Meh
Goes into the forbidden realm of country music where it just sounds corny.
Mediocre country music, not a pleasure to listen to.
The he Birds and country. Like the sound and it’s different form my expectations.
2.7 - I found this album really boring. I wasn’t much of a fan
Not my type of music.
Feel like there have been a lot of The Byrds on this list. This album was the most country. Meh
Don't necessarily hate it, but it is a little too country for me. The song "The Christian Life" totally sucks and I don't think I want to listen to the rest of this album. Pile of steamy shit,
Tepid urban cowboy music.
C'est vraiment un drôle de feeling cet album. L'exécution est vraiment bonne, autant instrumentale que la production, mais ça fait tellement stéréotypé et les chants sur un ton constament preachy viennent tellement redondant. J'ai l'impression ça devait être un album très important pour l'établissement de la scène country, mais ça rassemble trop de sonorités qui me déplaisent de ce style. 5/10
A bold endeavor but ultimately not for me
If I may complain about Spotify for a little bit, why oh why do they not have regular editions of albums? I don’t want to listen to half an hours worth of song that weren’t good enough for the original release and demos or rehearsal tapes unless it’s an album that I already know and like. I own a super deluxe version of Rumours because it’s one of my favourite albums, and it’s fascinating to see how these iconic songs came together. But it’s the actual album that I listen to most, not the demos. Anyway… The Byrds. I’m not even sure this is Country Rock. This is just straight up Country. What’s the distinction? Do you have to have lived in Tennessee at some point? On top of it being Country, it’s country of a very jerky, oompah variety that I’ve never enjoyed. The Country Rock label is starting to make more sense to me. It’s a Rock guy’s interpretation of Country, without the understanding of why it doesn’t necessarily work. I just prefer my Country with a bit more grit. This is amateur shit. Also, I cannot work out for the life of me if The Christian Life is supposed to be satire or not. It’s presented as if it should be, but it’s played so straight that it reminds me of every fucking sanctimonious evangelical motherfucker I’ve ever come across in my life. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it!
The Byrds really don't need to be on this list as much as they are, and this is probably their most bland album yet. Meh. No more Byrds please.
Basic
Not my favorite- the lean into country is the template for todays pop country. Outside of the singles and nothing was delivered I don’t love the rest. Easy to listen to though
Pretty pumped for this after the first Byrds record was a pleasant psychedelic surprise. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO wtf was that Byrds. It probably doesn't deserve a 1 but the Christian song at the beginning made me want to vomit. I want to give it a 1 so bad but there were some good moments musically. Lots of pedal steel which I love.
A little more country than I expected, but still pretty meh.
The Byrds seemed like a good rock band (in their time and genre); why did they make a country album? It sounds pretty boring, and the lyrics to many songs are weird and creepy. Which was par for the course in the '60s, but you're supposed to make them more abstract and poetic, at least. And was "The Christian Life" meant seriously or ironically?
It was ok. None of the songs really grabbed me though. 2
This is the kind of country I don’t like. He doesn’t even sing like he cares
Too old
Tonight on The Littleist Hobo…
I suddenly have the urge to play Red Dead Redemption. What’s worse than Country music? Christian Country music. There were parts I enjoyed, banjo pickin has a great novelty sound to it. Not sure if there were two singers but whoever was singing on ‘The Christian Life’, I did not like his voice or any songs he sung. There are two tempos on this album: square dance & slightly faster square dance. Really generic country music all said and done, felt like I had heard all these songs walking around bass pro shop. 4/10
60’er country rock, men ikke rigtig på den charmerende måde
One listen was enough Album did zero for me Bit of a disappointment 2/5
How dare you call this any kind of rock. I truly hate twang
Forgettable and bland
Too country
Two of my least favorite music genres all rolled up into a dung beetle snack: country & christian music.
i have this weird inclination to marry my cousin......... fav songs: you aint going nowhere, pretty boy floyd
I think that the departure of Gene Clark sapped all the creative energy out of the Byrds and little that they did afterward compares to his solo outings, especially the “No Other” album that we were sent, also recorded in 1968! This LP contains only two original tunes, and while I don’t mind country, it sounds very contrived, especially the Chicago middle-class kid Roger McGuinn donning a deep south accent for "The Christian Life". My co-judge says they should have stuck to psychedelic folk.
Wasn't expecting this to be so country as I only really know The Byrds from "Turn Turn Turn" and their psychedelic rock era. Nevertheless... I didn't exactly love this though I guess I understand their importance to country rock and all and why it made it to the list. I'm sorry but I had to bail, just the same stuff over and over. 4/10
Ok so they helped create the country rock genre. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.
Just some good old Byrds. Wouldn’t change if they could. Fighting the law just like some new modern day Robin Hood.
I struggled to get through this one but it was a bit better the second time through. Fave track Blue Canadian Rockies.
This has some alright songs. I suspect it's included on the list because it's a bit of a quirk of musical history and not so much because of the actual quality. We'll call it a 2.5 rounded down.
Too much country for this guy
I found it to be un-inspired. On songs like "The Christian Life" the performance is almost a mean-spirited parody of Country-Western culture and music. I can see why this record didn't go over well with Country fans when it came out. Given the rest of their catalog it seems insincere.
Country music is very much a hit or miss to me - I've said it before and I'll say it again. For every moment that delights me with the rhythm of fiddle and banjo, there's another that nettles me with vocals that caterwaul about the good ol' days. It's embarrassing to admit that my good track record with this genre comes from video games imitating or paying homage to it ... The Byrds should probably be thankful that I'm choosing to only listen to the standard editions of these albums, because eleven songs seems a good enough number to avoid overstaying my welcome. This is one of those albums where when I start to grow bored of, come pleading and begging for me to return with a song that just captures my attention enough to stay. But honey, if you want me to stay that badly, you have to try harder than that.
Not great
Had a good easy-listening sound, but ultimately not an engaging listen for me.
Too country
I had no idea the Byrds went country. Interesting choice.
You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere 1.5-2/5
For me outdated
Probably on the list for its influence and not because it still holds up today. Surpassed by many modern country records and feels very formulaic. Started off strongly but fell apart shortly after, not one to relisten to again but not awful in the moment.
I only know one song by The Byrds, and it isn't even by them, and it isn't on this record. I see there are several other Bob Dylan songs on this record, though. Is this just a covers album? The version I found only has 11 songs on it, and no, I will not be looking for the longer version. 20 more minutes of this?! 2 / 5 stars.
The usual late 60s/early 70s country noodling. Nothing to see (or hear) here... 2/5
Really hate this.
I love this album and I really enjoyed listening, but it is bad. Lazy writing, unoriginal chords and structure, lackluster performance. The runtime is too short, especially since two are gospel songs. The production was good and the Byrds definitely have their unique sound, but that doesn’t save this album. Quite a vibe though. 2/5
60s hippie country sounds similar to bob Dylan sometimes 2.5
Interesting, but no thanks.
Good quality country covering bluegrass with banjo and violins and also country ballads and storytelling. Just too country and twangy for my taste.
Its country.
This was not enjoyable.
Not really my thing. Very old country, but with a slightly weird christian spin. Kind of bland in comparison to most other music too.
This sounds like country and blue grass, and I don't really love country music. I know of the Byrds, but I don't know if I would listen to this voluntarily. I'm into late 60s and early 70s music -- I grew up listening to the Beatles, Yes, and Lynard Skynard (Free Bird! -- and I like country rock that has more rock than country banjos) to name a small dynamic triad. I just imagine Hank Hill with a beer and rocking his head back and forth to this album. Not for me.
OK but country is not my thing
So, what I'm hearing is... this is all Gram Parsons's fault? All the garbage rock country and hippie redneck nonsense of the last few decades are because Parsons convinced one of the most influential psych rock bands to twang? Well, screw that guy. I'm generally alright with The Byrds but this was nearly unlistenable. The only reason this didn't flat-out fail is because, apparently, The Byrds got tired of their own nonsense and, around 2/3 of the way through, reverted to their rock roots for a a few songs.
the byrds' sweetheart of the rodeo is a cute album name, but if you hadn't told me who the artist was, i would never have guessed it was the byrds. really, this album is indistinguishable from their earlier albums, of which i've listened to two as part of this list. the country lean must have happened due to gene clark and david crosby's absence and firing, respectively. i enjoy country music, but this album came across as bland. it's not that good of country music. clark's absence is keenly felt. sure, this album is listenable but it's uninteresting and a drag.
I realize that The Byrds always kind of dabbled in country sounds in their previous albums, but I don't know why The Byrds agreed to go full country here. From the producer perspective, I guess if they wanted to get country music in front of more people, duping them into listening to it by baiting and switching with a psychedelic band is one way to do it. Honestly, this album brings out my least favorite aspects of country music. And the Christian overtones were too much. This just really wasn't my thing.
If you had told me that The Byrds did a country album before today, I wouldn't have believed you.
I need a Sarsaparilla to get through this
Nope, still allergic to country music.
It was a bit 60's country for my liking. I was waiting for something more like Turn Turn Turn or Tamburine Man, so I was disappointed. 2/5.
Hyuck
This album is for The Byrds. Country is not their strongest suit. You add Gran Parsons with this album and its subtraction by talented addition. It just doesn’t work all that well.
Today I learned The Byrds have a country album. I'm not really a fan of country, but I promised myself I would give any country album on this a chance. There were some nice parts in some of the songs. There's some really nice piano and fiddle that I enjoyed. I prefer The Byrds more 60's rock sound. I wouldn't judge anyone who enjoys this album, but it's just not for me.
Hmmm christian vibing honkey tonk of the 60s. Easy going and corny. I hate it. Lazy day- solid 50s style rock song. Just too little too late.
I liked the first song "You Ain't Goin Nowhere," but it all kind of fell apart after that. Their take on country is awkward, it's hard to know whether they're being serious. The fact that Gram Parsons talked them into a country album, then had left the band by the time it was finished, is telling. It wasn't horrible, but given that the only song I really liked was a cover of a Bob Dylan song, I can't rate this highly.
Honestly - I think I just don't like country music
There is exactly one good song on this album, the last one, and the rest is in fuck country territory
Didn't like the album that much, but still thought it was interesting to listen to. The song I liked the most was Hickory Wind
Yeah, sure. Okay. But country music is universal like my stubbed toe. So why should I dwell on it?
twangerang
They went full country here! I bet Wilco like it.
The jingle got well and truly jangled here. Have heard a couple of the tracks before on their best of where they slotted in nicely. A few steps on the trajectory got missed to reach this point and it doesn't work.
Country music.
So bad
Front half is very twangy bluegrass with lots of gospel lyrics. Settles into a country folk-rock back half that I enjoyed more, but I was so annoyed by the first half I basically just ran out the clock wanting this to end.
This sounds like the start of a lot of country western pop that I can't stand. Well played, just not interesting to me.
Uneventful pastoral country folk that will make you pray for it to stop.
Nä, ett riktigt bottennapp tyvärr. Countryrocken är svår. När allt stämmer låter det bra, annars blir det så här. Låter religiöst och (förlåt) "bonnigt". Speciellt äckligt kristet blir det i 'I Am a Pilgrim' och 'The Christian Life'. Eller hur kul låter den här killen, från 'The Christian Life': "My buddies shun me, since I turned to Jesus They say I'm missin' a whole world of fun I live without them and walk in the light I like the Christian life" Toppenkul! Albumet räddas (nåväl) av några starkare spår. Båda låtarna skrivna av Dylan (tack papi) - 'You Ain't Goin' Nowhere' och 'Nothing Was Delivered' - håller högre klass. Även Gram Parsons 'One Hundred Years From Now' lyfter litegrann. Bästa låt: Nothing Was Delivered.
A good old fashioned snooze of a country music record. Boring and dull with only flashes of fun ideas.
Hilarious story. I'm glad it exists. But it's not very good is it
Country crap
This felt somehow dated and old fashioned in the sound
Parece que todo el LP es una sola canción, suena igual....
Not bad but not my normal listen.
Why is this on here??? Why??? The byrds really don’t need this many albums especially that this one is just some dumb jaunty folk shit for half an hour.
The Byrds shit on my car
Well recorded but not for me thank you
Not a fan of this at all, skipped through a few songs. Just not what I'm into musically.
dios. 5.5/10
Not for me
kinda boring
I get that they're trying to show that a bunch of hippie rockers like them can make a country music. They definitely can, but that doesn't mean that their generic and character-less set of country covers are enjoyable.
Not really my vibe
Dit is me te country, ook al zijn het The Byrds.
Ugh wat onzetten saai en jengelend. Die steel guitar is niet te harden.
Not as good as other Byrds albums I’ve heard
09/29/2022 Honestly not the best. Title track is the highlight and it’s the first on the album, so after that you’re kinda just left hanging with mediocre cowboy songs — Fighting to get through the days. Tuesdays and Thursdays are my favorite bc at least I get to go home early
A bad pastiche of some very old music - sounds like someone trying to recreate Johnny Cash or Eagles having only heard them once. Not what I expected from The Byrds, and not as good. Decent enough I guess, but nothing memorable in the whole album.
As an album on its own, it's not all that bad but I can't say I enjoyed it all that much. I do think there are a couple tracks like 'You Got A Reputation' and 'Pretty Polly' that sit in the middle of where the band was and where they were aiming to go, which I found a lot more interesting than the majority of the album. I get the impression that the album is less on the list for how individually great it is and more for the fact that it was a complete revamp of a widely popular band's sound/genre. There are other examples of bands doing this (Ministry's early albums, Garth Brooks' grunge album under the name Chris Gaines, Eddie Vedders ukulele album to a lesser extent). I can't recall a band that has navigated this transition well and certainly not in the span of a single album. If there was a group that did that, I could see why that transitional album would be here.
While a few tracks were really very good, I found the album largely uninteresting. I’ve had friends who really loved and admired the Byrds, but I haven’t been able to connect with their music very well.
yag
Definitely not the worst country music I've ever heard, but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it. I think the singer's voice was soothing. My favourite song was probably Pretty Polly, but nothing particularly stood out to me.
Not my cup of moonshine
i mean it’s ight first song was fye but that’s bout it
a little too folkie
I've heard some of these tracks and others by The Byrds before. I can hear from this the influence they'd have on acts that followed, especially as the members fanned out into the rock and pop world of the 70s. It's fine to listen to; doesn't really compel me to re-listen though, on a personal preference level.
No more Byrds. Please. 4/10
Too much country for me in two days.
Very country
Has a feeling of the Band. Just not nearly as good as the Band.
not my style
Spent the whole album in a state of confusion... The Byrds did a country album?
Not really a fan of country rock. This was okay but nothing really jumped out at me. Pleasant.
2,5; nothing special few good tracks nice to play for a background I guess
p155, 1968. 2 stars. Yeehaw. Former folk/psychedelic/pop idols go country in desperate attempt to reinvent themselves. Well done of its kind and in hindsight one of the key bridges between pop and country - you can see a direct line from this to The Eagles and The Dixie Chicks - but not my thing at all. Unlikely to play this again.
Not for me.
It’s a country music album
I'm just not a fan of the twangly guitars, twinkly pianos, and the sounds that feels like it could come out of a western. This album just is way too much country for me, and I'm not a fan. I did like the one song, 100 Years From Now
Monochromatic shit kicking
They are obviously talented so a shame they are wasting their time in this genre
Ei nyt lähe tää rodeorock
cöntry
Ho hum
I gave this a go but country is really not my thing.
Ps no está malo pero no es lo mío
A pretty good country album, though I'm not a huge fan of the genre.
Ehhhh it's some twangy folk-rock. Some of the songs topics are quite fun but the instrumentals and overall tone of the record really get old by the end. Not my favorite type of music to begin with anyways, but probably will not be returning to this one. 3/10
2.3 - decent listen but not my favorite genre or Byrds album. The cover of “You Ain’t Goin Nowhere” sort of encapsulates my feelings toward this album - a foundation that typically resonates pretty strongly with me, just executed in a way that makes me feel a bit “meh”.
quite boring
Sorry this does nothing for me. Two stars only because of its supposed groundbreaking influence but this just sounds like generic country music to me
Not my thing
Didn’t have any listening notes, wasn’t that terrible but I’m not a fan of the biblical folk stuff so it didn’t really hit me like that
The best Byrds album we’ve heard thus far, but still a 2
Didn’t finish this but if i had to guess I’m not missing anything after track 6
Thought it was Bob Dylan at first. Country folk rock, honkey-tonk style. Not my bag. 2/5
Too country for me
Old people country western music. Not the worst, just not my preference.
Sweetheart of the Rodeo by The Byrds (1968) Just because an album is influential doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s good. It can be (and has been) argued that without the pioneering country ‘rock’ of Sweetheart of the Rodeo, there never would have been The Eagles or America or The Doobie Brothers or etc., etc. Well, maybe. But this little piece of cultural appropriation just doesn’t stand on its own. There is no original songwriting on this record, although the opening and closing tracks, as country-styled covers of Bob Dylan songs, reproduce a formula that had made the Byrds successful in earlier years—making Dylan somewhat more accessible to the pop world. This works for “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” (the best track on the album by far), but the Byrds just can’t pull this off when covering Woody Guthrie, Merle Haggard, The Louvin Brothers, or even traditional songs. Roger McGuinn’s lead vocals (on six of these eleven tracks) are not that good. He lacks the soul (yes, soul) of classic country, and his faux Alabama accent on “The Christian Life” is teeth-grindingly annoying. And the lead vocals of Gram Parsons (on three tracks) are only marginally better. But the standard country vocal harmonies are above average, albeit with sync problems (did they miss David Crosby?). Arrangements that include pedal steel, banjo, mandolin, and fiddle are artful and appealing, and mostly performed by competent session musicians. This feature alone is what makes the album listenable. The Byrds’ performance of “The Christian Life” by The Louvin Brothers is completely unconvincing. And “The Prison Life” sounds even more insincere (Frilly country shuffle and suicidal thoughts don’t make a good combination.) “One Hundred Years from Now” is the only track that really shows a country-rock fusion. The rest are inexperienced attempts to reproduce a country sound. I’d much rather hear Dolly Parton or Merle Haggard or Buck Owens or Johnny Cash—each for different reasons. The Byrds, however, as country artists, simply sound amateurish. It’s sad to note that a great group like The Byrds (in their brief Gram Parsons period), performing these great songs, put forward such a disappointing musical effort. 2/5
wasn't the worst ever, still country though 1.8
God I can't stand country
This is at least reminiscent of classic country, so not nearly as grating as modern country can be. However, this thing is just way too homogenous - tracks blend into one another after a while if the slide guitar tone and arrangements remains relatively static.
I didn't love the first record by them and this is more country than that one. Nope.
Listening to this album was hard for me. I was wondering throughout why I didn't like it so much. The album left me with some insights, but I didn't change my mind. Ironically, songs 12-14 that weren't on the original album were my favorite bit. Slow, rocking chair twangy ballads aren't my jam, I guess.
There are a couple Byrds songs that I know. None are on this album. I did not find it enjoyable. A very western feel to it and that does not help the album.
I guess the guitar parts are really good?
I found this album a bit boring, but I liked a couple of songs. 2/5 stars.
Jangly west coast pop group change into a solid country rock group. Best Tracks: You Ain't Going Nowhere; Hickory Wind; Nothing Was Delivered
eh
Meh
Sounds like stripped down country with a small infusion of Beatles. Not my favorite. Lacks many of the sonic qualities I appreciate in more contemporary country.
It is alright, I think they have better songs on better albums from what I've listened to.
Slow country music, meh, like country but wasn’t feeling this but not really the album for a 7.30am treadmill run
Not a folk/country fan
Same as 5th dimension, probably even slightly worse.
to much cristian country, nice vibe sometimes in some songs. not really my taste even tho some of the songs are very fleetwood mac alike which i like!
More like country rock... was ok but not familiar with the songs... probably because it reached only 77th on billboard charts
Ei vaan uppoa :/ liian aneemista näin tiukkaan sähinäpäivään!
En tunnustaudu olevani countryn suhteen rasisti, mutta tämä oli vähän unettavaa. Sitkeästi taistelin levyn loppuun ja siinä sivussa murskasin dataa pysyäkseni hereillä.
Country rock, not bad
Melkein teki mieli antaa kolme tähteä ihan vaan genren puolesta, mutta kuten muutkin näemmä todenneet, niin vähän laihaksi jäi anti. Väittäisin, että on paljon parempiakin genrensä edustajia olemassa, miksi tämä oli listalla?
Alkuun olin leppoisissa Fleetwood Mac -tunnelmissa, mutta aika pian loppui innostus. Vähän turhan väsähtänyttä settiä minun makuun.
Way more country than I expected, and the content was all so negative!
4
Rundes Stück Country ohne Kanten, an denen man was aufhängen könnte Runde 2.3
Man, Byrds fans in '68 were probably super pissed at this album. I appreciate the courage it probably took to switch from psychedelic rock to these well-written and played country songs (with just the barest hint of rock in it). Can't say I loved it, but thanks for doing it because I probably wouldn't have fallen in love with Whiskeytown or other bands that came after, had they not done this album.
I still don't really enjoy country, but this was better
es bastante digerible si te late el country pero ya leyendo la historia y trasfondo del disco y sus integrantes te das una idea de lo que pudo ser y no fue.
Cuando leí que este disco, de cierta forma, era parte del origen del Rock Country, puso mis expectativas muy altas, sin embargo no las cumplió. En general se me hizo bastante aburrido, con poca carga hacia el lado rock y con mucho de lo muy tradicional del country que no me gusta tanto. Además, el estilo vocal es demasiado melódico y dulce y pocas veces llega a un momento como de 'yee-haw'.
Vaikka suuri Nivala-rockin ystävä olenkin, ei tämä jostain syystä oikein lähtenyt.
As previously noted, I don't like the sounds that The Byrds make. This album was slightly better than the last one from this list, but the mostly country slant was still not one I could stomach repeatedly. 2 stars.
More Hippie Music
fuck country
Countryksi yllättävän vähän alkoi vituttamaan, mutta silti joutavaa...
No. Just no. Not for me.
I heard the first two songs of this album and I couldn’t listen to the rest. The music genre of this album was difficult for me to appreciate, let alone enjoy.
country as fuck. and not in a good way for me
If you're a fan of the folky, psychedelic sound of The Byrds on their earlier albums with David Crosby, you might find "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" a bit challenging. Not only is Crosby’s distinctive voice missing from the harmonies, but it’s also a bona fide country and western album, musically speaking. If you can’t get to grips with that, this fifth album by the band will be almost unlistenable to you. It teems with pedal steel guitars, banjos and fiddles, and the songs are in a slow 3/4 waltz time. With this album, the Byrds were attempting a change of direction. Their success proved them right. "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" is the band’s last truly successful album, and they went on to release six more albums with various line-ups. But I simply find it dreadful. While it is certainly well-made — Gram Parsons, who was essentially a guest on the album, played a significant role — as someone with a phobia of country music, I find the album almost unlistenable.
I'm roughly 70 percent completed in this journey, and I've figured out one thing(if nothing else): whenever a subgenre is labeled both "Rock", and "Country", that means it's a Country album. Don't ask me why; I don't make the rules. It's not like I'm a fan of the Byrds anyway, but their honky tonk album is just peak cringe. It's hee-hawful. On top of this, these are mainly cover songs. Luckily, it's a short album. Favorite Track: "Nothing Was Delivered".
Don't hate all country music but was pretty bored with this
Too much banjo and Christianity for my taste 1.5
If John Denver made a rap album, what are the chances you’d like it? If Jay-Z puts out a Christmas album, I damn sure wouldn’t expect it to be good. If Taylor Swift goes krunk, why get down for that ride? So, why would you expect a country album from classic rockers The Byrds to be any different? Experimenting with new styles is fine, but a whole soulless, knock-off album? Just stay in your lane and leave terrible country music to those terrible country musicians who make it their specialty. On second thought, I’d like to hear the Jay-Z Christmas album …
Just. No.
Well... that was unexpected. Though, given the title, perhaps it shouldn't have been. But whatever, that doesn't change the fact that I found it very disappointing. Not helped, of course, by the fact that I don't like country. Mr Tambourine Man must be turning in his grave (or some such similar for fictitious characters). Sorry, but its a 1.
Awful
I gave thus a good go after trying and ultimately failing not to judge a record by its cover. Turn turn turning C&W and swapping out Crosby for Parsons. It had no chance. It was so cliche ridden, nearly all the songs sounded the same and same style. Not good. I was particularly revolted by the lyrics of 'The Christian Life'. This is from a band who started with so much potential in their early years and turned to this trash? If I could give it a 0 I gladly would, but out of misplaced Christian charity (if such a thing exists) I shall issue forth with the standard 1 sheriff badge.
Come on... This sucks
I don’t care for Country and or Western
The Byrds are not a band I really ever liked much to begin with; a twangy country version is going to be a struggle. I mean I guess it's cool that this was one of the first records in what would become a new genre, but like, I hate that genre. And I'm kind of getting tired of all these albums from 1966-1969. It seems that short space of time is disproportionally represented here. Of late at least. It's pretty much what I expected, 'country rock' is not what I would call it though I can see how that genre came out of this. This is a straight up country album. Christian Life is hilarious. Unless it's serious and then it's not so funny so I hope it was tongue-in-cheek. If it was meant in jest, I would guess it went over the heads of most of the Christians anyway. But I really hate this album. Not the fault of The Byrds, I just hate this kind of music. The recording, instrumentation, vocals, etc. are all fine but goddam I can't stand it. Today is another day I have to remember that this list is 1001 albums to hear before you die, not 1001 albums you want to hear before you die. Was it an important album that deserves to be on this list? Yes I suppose so. But I hate it. A lot. 1/5
Not the Byrds I know and not the Byrds I prefer. Quite removed from their the early 60s psychedelia we are used to. Even though I did not like this album, I understand why it's a must listen based on the synopsis. Pretty adventurous to make such a pivot in genres. Nowadays, it's pretty common for artists to jump over to the pop-rock-country scene. But back in this era with a bunch of purest stiffs, much tougher to be accepted. Makes sense though that their original followers dropped them...I would have skipped this record in my collection if I was a big fan at the time. True country fans still need to convince me that the music is good. Even with the Byrds' valid attempt, the songs are still hokey corn. Between jazz and country, I'm just missing the appeal and praise. 1.18 stars for branching out but going the wrong route.
Surprised that this is considered the first country rock album as I would have figured those genres had crossed over much earlier. Sweetheart Of The Rodeo sounded like a lot of other run of the mill twangy country music from the time. I get why someone with country roots would enjoy something like this but it doesn't do much for me. I understand why this one makes the list but it doesn't mean I have to be a fan of it. There's certainly worse elsewhere but this one is just another skipper. 1.47 stars
Should never have sacked David Crosby. But then again would never have had CSN&Y. 1/5 2/8/26
this ain't for me chief
This kinda really blows, which I guess is what happens when you let Gram Parsons provide lead vocals for your album.
2/10 I was so confused when I put this album on and, it turned out to be a country record. They should’ve stuck to electric style music, they were good at it, For me the music on the album, mr tambourine, man sounds more interesting, feels like they stepped backwards 3 years later with this album. Didn’t mind the Christian life.
What the duck? How on earth is this album included in this list? I would rate zero. Of course I know this might be a pretty great country (or is it western? ;-) ) album, but that is not my music.
Another Byrds album, and yet more absolute tripe This has followed the same process as the Tambourine one. Each of the songs are pretty bad, but as a whole album it's awful I really hope there aren't any more of their albums on this list
Not for me. Over the top barroom country cosplay. Yucky.
I think Lynyrd Skynyrd must have pissed me off because I absolutely hated this. The worst kind of Nashville country influenced blues rock - poor harmonies, banal lyrics and practically nothing of merit to note in my time listening to this. Was expecting a little more of a psychedelia edge to it that just never came through. In the end I was praying for a little more something than what I got.
Not the best album, very country and simple doesnt showcase the talent in that group
The Byrds produced what is arguably the defining sound of the 60s. There were acts that were bigger, more experimental, more influential, or all of the above but when you imagine the sound of the hippie movement, it's almost impossible to not hear their signature jangly 12-string guitar somewhere in the mix. But by 1968, the band had lost basically every key member but that lead guitarist and were running on creative fumes. Needing help, they turned to an hungry up and comer by the name of Gram Parsons who just a year later would form The Flying Burrito Brothers and release one of the greatest country rock albums of all time. Parsons, understandably, was still working on that sound and convinced the band their future lay in country rock. He was wrong. Catastrophically, horribly wrong. This album sunk the Byrds permanently and its songs were so poorly received that the band was booed out of the Grand Ole Opry mid debut performance. The Nashville old guard thought these insincere hippie assholes were mocking country music by releasing soulless, overly produced covers of classic songs that sounded like parodies. The album has been reevaluated since then and is widely beloved within country music now as a stepping stone in the evolution of country rock. I hate to say it, but I think the original country haters had it right. These songs largely sound like bad parodies of country music to my ears right down to the overly maudlin lyrics and often weak melodic structures. These guys were just not ready to sell this hard of a pivot and needed it to cook for more than just a couple months of recording sessions. There are interesting musical arrangements here and there but the band largely cannot sell their country pivot when the only true believer was Gram Parsons and he'd be kicked out of the band soon. The only songs that work to my mind are, as you might expect from the band that made Mr. Tambourine Man a hit, Bob Dylan covers and even Parsons couple of original songs don't hold a candle to what he'd do in The Flying Burrito Brothers.
No. This might be one of the first albums where I skimmed through songs. After Christian Life, I was like hold up. There’s so many better albums by the Byrds. This one is too honky tonk and generic for me.
eu odeio country
This was such a departure. I get that it is considered the first country rock album but the timing of Gram Parsons in the band and the release of this album indicates that he wasn’t as much of the driver of this shift as people give him credit for. It is just a poor imitation of country for me, and barely listenable at times. And to think all of the terrible modern country comes from this explains a lot.
I can’t deal with this contrived Americana country folk music
It sounded a bit more country than rock to me, but there were some charming songs. Just not for me.
Um… The Byrds have 5 albums on the list. Really? Is that really necessary? Interesting, I just listened to the Flying Burrito Bros. That album has some history for me personally. This… is just another album from 68. Oh. I like alt-country. I like folk. But… this is… not good. It’s making me figure out why. It’s like smooth peanut butter. The jangling instruments, the lack of percussive interest. The treble harmonizations. It adds up to… white bread and Jiff stuck in my throat. 2… You Got a Reputation is ok, but man, I am feeling like going to 1. This album is pissing me off. How long is it? Yeah it gets a 1. The contractual disputes destroyed what might have been ok. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Boolean: False. Don’t need 5 albums from the Byrds. They need to fly away to the past and stay there.
Unholy shit, that was rough...
Oh hell no.
I didn’t enjoy this, but struggle to put my finger on why. A lot of the time it felt too old fashioned country for me.
I was not expecting The Byrds to sound like this. It started with a Dylan song and it was all downhill from there. I sort of wish we'd got psychedelic-Byrds rather than country-Byrds. I have very little to say about this other than I did not enjoy it. 1/5
Struggled to get to the end of this one
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I have no capacity for this shit.
Liker ikke sjangeren
Just lame. Love the instrumentation but subject matter is so weak
Awful, preachy, twangy, tedious complaining and praying. There is nothing here for me.
I don't know what that was?! It was either terrible country or someone trying to be country that never heard country music before.
Some of these are like oh hey I actually might like this sort of stuff. And then sometimes it is... not that. On the whole, absolutely not my jam.
Fuck the Byrds.
no tengo el alma para escuchar esto. Country rock más bien country pebble. Suena todo igual y es soporífero. solo podía ser top en los estados unidos del 68. terrible
Full Album Thoughts: Album Rating: 1.1 (C-) I still cant believe that the best parts of the album were the cut content released 30 years later. I resent having to wade through so much country dreck. I guess I like Bluegrass and Folk Songs decently enough, but I feel like I am rating them higher by sheer contrast then I otherwise objectively would. Somehow, numerically, Bruce Springsteen's album is lower than this, and this whole album is bolstered by my relief of the C side. Track Thoughts: You Ain't Goin' Nowhere C+ I dont know why I have a visceral negative reaction to the exact tone of guitar here. I should like the vocal harmonies, I should like the laid back meandering tone... but its something about the plodding bass that starts to make my eyes roll back in my head. There is something Dylan-esque to the lyrical delivery. I Am a Pilgrim B+ See now, you know what, lean into bluegrass, some folk-country... and I am all the more willing to enjoy it? Early exposure to, of all things, some fiddler's cassette when I was young, and then falling ever further down the rabbit hole due to celtic punk proclivities, along with reinforcement from the Coen Brothers preoccupation with the genre. I sleep on gospel songs but dress it up old-timey like, set out in Appalachia, and I'm actually down for it. The Christian Life F- Aaaand we're back to the whine, its a guitar that whines that drives me mad. Also wooooof the singing tone! Its the fact that every note they sing needs to be slid up or down to. I can only HOPE this is sarcastically mocking the POV character, but I am fearful it is earnest. F- You Don't Miss Your Water D- Its the dang country waltz that is doing me in. We are hitting the slide guitar again. And yet I REALLY wish the Vocal Harmony was being used for a better song because it is such a strange delivery and voicing, that like, I can see a better cover of this. And they bring in... are they actually bringing in a horn at like the 2 minute mark, or was that a strangely captured guitar tone? Eitherway, I think this has the bones of solid Midwestern Emo Shoegaze song. As is, its insufferable. You're Still on My Mind D- We keep hitting the plodding walking bass bounce and twang, but I keep being caught off guard by the eclectic vocal delivery! And then yeah we almost hit a honkytonk piano, which CAN be deftly deployed (see Jack White's solo career) to great effect. Pretty Boy Floyd B+ See now this DOES have a plodding walking bass, but its up beat, and the banjo and mandolin and fiddle drive this sombitch along something fierce. Plus a good ol outlaw folk story, lets go! My only complaint is that it is over too soon! Hickory Wind D- I wish this song stayed in South Carolina. I have a vendetta against glissando. Steel Slide Guitar is a sin in most implementations. 88 Fingers Edward can get a pass. Like I just have nothing to latch on to here. The lyrics come too few an far between, I want a sentence a bar, not a syllable or two at most. My brain cant hold that much information at once, so by the time the thought is completed I have forgotten what started it! One Hundred Years from Now D+ I am loving the vocal harmonies! The bass is doing something more than just walking back and forth! The backing guitar is doing some strange trills, and we have a piano doing something almost reminiscent of the Beatles if I squint my ears! AND THEN THE GODDAMN STEEL SLIDE GUITAR IS CHIRPING IN MY RIGHT EAR! I feel like if I muted a single track of this song, I could bring it up a whole letter grade! Its almost a rock song! Blue Canadian Rockies D You get my country's name out of your mouth. Stop warbling about my Province. (well technically Lake Louise is in Alberta, so neighbor province.) Its that goddamn hounddog wail, like a ship constantly bobbing up over the crest of a wave... I cant stand it. Life in Prison D I had high hopes before the steel guitar game in that we'd have another bluegrass banger. Lock up this whole album and throw away the key. To say one nice thing: There is a melodic interplay between the piano and the steel guitar during the solo (well, duet) portion that would be very interesting on any other instrument choice. Nothing Was Delivered F- WHERE WAS ANY OF THE ROCK that came in at like 50 seconds into this song (I guess the first half of the Chorus) on the rest of the album? And right back to country schlock. I am like, mad at being shown what could have been, at the tail end here. Do I applaud a brief moment of respite as a shining beacon to be celebrated, or chastise what has been demonstrated as technically possible yet willfully not pursuing it? You Got A Reputation A Oh fuck off the best song on the album wasn't originally on the album? This is a bonus from the re-release? I was ready to just Stop Listening at this point but like, this is legitimately excellent! (and also giving me CCR/Beatles vibes) FUCK I am going to have listen to the last two songs because what if there is gold?! Lazy Days B Fuck me and an early Beach Boys riff? Like actually upset that this is on the cutting room floor of the album. This should replace the opener about doing nothing, it covers basically the same material. (though I dont like the lyrics imagery as much here). Pretty Poly A+ And we go hard into heavier blue grass! Oh man this is like straight up my kind of folk song too! Its got that minor key drone! Again, like absolute shining bright spot of the album! Haunting yet Bright! I am so in love with this! WARGH WHY IS IT ONLY CUT MATERIAL!
Holy crap is this bad. Why did they feel the need to make a country album? Their other stuff is so good, but this is derivative, hokey, and cringey. 1.0/5.0: Embarrassing
If I was a racist who was planning to marry my sister I think I would love this
Hmm. I have zero investment in the Byrds' history prior to this album, so I'm not offended by all the country rock, just slightly wondering why. (Why this and not the Eagles?) Along trundles the album, strumming and crooning in my ears while I do some work. Oh, what's that, "Life in Prison" you say? "With trembling hands I killed my darling wife / Because I loved her more than life / My love for her will last a long, long time". All this over a jaunty, cheerful instrumentation. Narrator sounds a bit sad at the idea of not having received death penalty ie having to live with what he's done. Well fuck off Merle Haggard, Jelly Sanders, Gram Parsons, Byrds. It's Bad, 1/10.
Jesus Christ and the country...yay.
101. no
Not a fan, even after a second listen. I really didn’t connect with this music.
Horrible awful almost unlistenable for me urgghhhh!!!
Shiftless, shallow musicianship. Kudos for propping themselves up long enough to record that ruinous take of You Don't Miss Your Water. Don't cover Motown!! Jail.
Nicht meins
Music you can both watch paint dry and beat your wife to.
Sweetheart of the Rodeo is often hailed as a pioneering country-rock record, but for me it was a real tough listen. The blend of rock, pop and traditional country just doesn’t do anything for me. I found it surprisingly flat and one-dimensional, and listening to the extended version only amplified that feeling. There’s a strong late-’60s Nashville influence throughout, pedal steel, harmonies, and more than a hint of religious sentiment — but rather than sounding groundbreaking, it comes across as dated and uninspiring. I Favourite track: One Hundred Years from Now was passable and at least had a bit of energy. Least favourite tracks: Hickory Wind and The Christian Life did very little for me. In truth, I struggled to find many real highlights across the album. Album artwork: Lots going on and nothing very good.
Lifeless and uninspired music. Belongs in the trash. Next.
What the hell... The Byrds went country? No. Just no. Why?
It’s in my ears! Get it out!
That was trash
Awful in just about every way, IMO. Without quite having the chronology down, this album either sounds like the generic country I don't like or Graham Parsons invents the country I don't like on this album.
reallllllly pushing it with this one
Ooooo
Yeah, no. No thank you. I will never understand peoples strange obsession with Gram Parsons. I guess he did pave the way for the "butt rock in a 10 gallon hat" people pass off as country music today, gee thanks. I honestly wish I had never listened to this and that there was a score lower than 1 star, but here we are.
not for me
It’s a stock standard country album where they wrote none of the songs, this song imo is not revolutionary in any way, if I want to listen to a bob Dylan written song, I’ll just listen to bob dylan
Generic country. Not terrible, not great. Another one on here that is apparently influential but it's lost on me.
Sounds like a perfectly nice country album accidentally made by a band that didn’t really want to be there. Historically important, emotionally beige.
Eh, I liked some of the instrumentals but this was pretty boring for me. Was every band in the 60s/70s required by law to rip off Bob Dylan???
Saw the band and the album cover and started laughing. I even told a friend that also does this challenge that I was going to hate this in the morning. Lo and behold, I hated it. Folk/Country crap, and when I hit the song “The Christian Life”, I was like that’s enough for me.
An album of covers played in country rock style. No thanks.
Another Byrds album that bores me to death. There were two or three songs here I tolerated that had a cool mellow Americana vibe but not enough for me to tolerate a country (a genre I mostly do not really like) album from a band I already do not like. Man do I just not really like the Byrds.
Too country for me
Must've been a banger at Christ camp '68
Strange; as I claim many albums are
This one was a real struggle for me. Favourite tracks: none. Won't be revisiting. 1/5
I was not expecting the heavy Country vibe! Thanks, but No!
I specifically said I didn't want country and this is the first offering?
Got garbage
To quote themselves: "others find pleasure in things i despise..."
🐐
Look, I get it. The 60's was a fun time and rock was in kind of a weird transitional place but JFC this is... annoying as shit.
I didn’t have any expectations going into this album and yet somehow I was let down. I really liked the cover, but that’s where the positives end. The lyrics did nothing for me, the vocals were underwhelming, and worst of all I hated the instrumentals. Honestly a miserable experience from start to finish.
Ебаное кантри
Too country for me. I could also appreciate the album for the music maybe, if it wasn't for those run of the mill stupid lyrics. Not my cup of tea.
Not my style. At all. ★
Fav: One Hundred Years From Now Least Fav: Life In Prison I don’t mind The Byrds, but finding out that this was a country album ruined it for me. It sucks, it’s boring and I’m grateful it’s only sround 30 mins
Dude this list keeps surprising me with terrible music
Chato demais!
This album is like Life in Prison. If I could die, my pain might go away.
There’s nothing I enjoy about this rockabilly style, and I grow more callous to it with each album offered on the list. My apologies to the Sweetheart, your rodeo fuckin blows.
reminds me of a worse John Denver. So many waltzes. Boring. Twangy. Grating and irritating by "Blue Canadian Rockies"
I have absolutely no idea why this is in the list. The most mediocre country ever. Nothing memorable.
Really didn't like this.
More boring ass slow poke Americana. Every song sounds the same. My kingdom for something with some grit, some balls.
Hier kwam ik gewoon echt niet doorheen. Country is niet mijn ding.
I've heard some music by The Byrds before. I thought it was nice. I feel cheated.
Country music excursion for The Byrds. An excursion l won't be taking again
Made a bad day feel worse
Urgh, can't bring myself to even complete the first track
This Byrd is NOT the word.
Écoute pénible. Album beaucoup trop long (il ne fait qu’à peine plus de 30 minutes, mais quand même). Tounes pas très inspirantes. Mais, les musiciens sont bons. Chaque ostie de toune commence avec de l’ostie de slide guitar ! Pourquoi ? POURQUOI ?? Et pourquoi un virage vers le country rock ? Selon wikipédia, ils étaient plutôt dans le rock psychédélique juste avant. Juste non.
The two first songs are good. Then it's like "country described by people who hate country"
Rock/hillbilly nonsense
This is to country what fart jokes are to humour.
Big old meh.
Take care of your health and don't listen to this!
Pretty much garbage country music til the last few songs, then it kinda evens out with some less garbage but more traditional The Byrds sounding tracks. Was going to give this a 2, but the country music was so bad...
No to this style of country, plain and simple.
You get those X-Factor artists or boy band members with no real musical ability of their own, except for the fact they can sing a bit - for years they are propped up by a record label, and a team of songwriters and producers. Now, I'm not knocking that, per se. Someone gets famous, someone else gets rich, we know the score. Well, you know when that relationship eventually comes to an end, and suddenly this artist is left high and dry without any original songs being written for them any more and they have to record an album of swing or Christmas songs because it is cheap and easy... then they have to do loads of TV interviews to promote the album and LIE THROUGH THEIR TEETH pretending they "always wanted" to record an album of jazz standards etc. Embarrassing. Well, Sweetheart Of The Rodeo comes across exactly like that. EXCEPT Roger McGuinn was capable of writing songs like Eight Miles High and You Showed Me, and apparently he really DID always want to record an album of "traditional American music". Madness. While there was always a whiff of country to the Byrds sound, and while I cannot deny Clarence White's guitar playing is mesmerising on some of the live recordings from the time he became a full-time member of the band, Sweetheart Of The Rodeo represents a cliff-face drop off in creativity and quality from the amazing albums that directly preceded it. Big fan of The Byrds, but their music is not on this album.
I know the intention here was to try and make twangy honky-tonk seem hip to the 60s kids, but if I wanted to listen to The Louvin Brothers, I'd just listen to The Louvin Brothers. This all sounds pretty hokey to me, practically to the point of parody. There is, all the same, some pretty stellar musicianship here, but I definitely think these fellas ought to have stuck with the psychedelic sounds they were known for. There are a couple standout tracks for me: Hickory Wind and Lazy Day. Both feature and were written by Gram Parsons, whose compositions and delivery feel more authentic, like he wasn't "trying on" the sound. All in all, I think this release holds up to the record company tagline to promote this when it came out: "This Country's for the Byrds." Uhhhh, yup.
switched off after "The Christian life". Jesus!
Didn’t know The Byrds did country. They shouldn’t have
Thank god this wasn't the first time I heard the Byrds, otherwise I woulda thought that they sucked hard
In a nutshell: Gram Parsons hijacks The Byrds. I get why this is in the book- it's the progenitor of country rock. But it's boring. It didn't captivate me like Wilco, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton did. Overall: 2/10
Not for me
Nope, 👎 too country and too much god
Why, why? For me, country is a genre that has no place in my musical universe and immediately disappears into a black hole (the trash can). "Sweetheart Of The Rodeo" has all the ingredients it needs: the title, the guitars, the fiddle, the banjo, and the vocals. Nothing screams country more, and I hate it.
Whey to much Jesus